Table 2 UK National Screening Committee criteria for appraising screening programmes

Condition	Important health problem
	Well-understood natural history with either latent period, or early symptomatic stage
	Practicable primary prevention implemented
Test	Simple, safe, precise, acceptable validated test
Test	Agreed policy on investigation of screen positives
Treatment	Evidence of benefit for screening identified cases over symptomatic cases through effective treatment
Treatment	Management of disease before screening should be optimised
Programme	Randomised controlled trial evidence that programme is effective in reducing mortality or morbidity
	Acceptable to public
	Value for money
	Agreed plan for monitoring, management and quality assurance
	Adequately staffing and facilities
	Appropriate patient information available

Adapted from the UK National Screening Committee criteria for screening programmes.